U.S. patent application number 14/889059 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-24 for indoor unit for air-conditioning apparatus, and air-conditioning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Tomoya FUKUI, Masayuki OISHI, Shoji YAMADA. Invention is credited to Tomoya FUKUI, Masayuki OISHI, Shoji YAMADA.
Application Number | 20160084520 14/889059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51866903 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160084520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FUKUI; Tomoya ; et
al. |
March 24, 2016 |
INDOOR UNIT FOR AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS, AND AIR-CONDITIONING
APPARATUS
Abstract
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of bent parts where a
direction of slope of the heat exchanger changes from an upward
direction to a downward direction or from a downward direction to
an upward direction. The plurality of bent parts is provided on
each of a side of an air inlet and a side of an air outlet. The
heat exchanger is provided such that all of the plurality of bent
parts is visible when the heat exchanger is seen from a front side
of a casing. Drain pans are provided below each of the plurality of
bent parts that are on the side of the air outlet.
Inventors: |
FUKUI; Tomoya; (Chiyoda-ku,
JP) ; OISHI; Masayuki; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) ;
YAMADA; Shoji; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUKUI; Tomoya
OISHI; Masayuki
YAMADA; Shoji |
Chiyoda-ku
Chiyoda-ku
Chiyoda-ku |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
CORPORATION
Chiyoda-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
51866903 |
Appl. No.: |
14/889059 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
May 8, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/062930 |
371 Date: |
November 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/291 ;
62/519 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/22 20130101;
F24F 1/0033 20130101; F25B 39/028 20130101; F24F 13/30 20130101;
F24F 1/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/22 20060101
F24F013/22; F25B 39/02 20060101 F25B039/02; F24F 13/30 20060101
F24F013/30 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, the indoor
unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet at a top and an air
outlet at a bottom; a plurality of air-sending devices provided in
the casing and on a downstream side of the air inlet and each
including an axial-flow fan or a mixed-flow fan; and a heat
exchanger provided in the casing and between the plurality of
air-sending devices and the air outlet, wherein the heat exchanger
includes a plurality of bent parts where a direction of slope of
the heat exchanger changes from an upward direction to a downward
direction or from a downward direction to an upward direction, the
plurality of bent parts being provided on each of a side of the air
inlet and a side of the air outlet, wherein the heat exchanger is
provided such that all of the plurality of bent parts are visible
when the heat exchanger is seen from a front side of the casing,
wherein drain pans are provided below each of the plurality of bent
parts that are on the side of the air outlet, and wherein at least
one of the plurality of bent parts being provided on the side of
the air inlet is a first bent part being provided below at an area
between the plurality of air-sending devices.
13. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein, when the heat exchanger is seen from the front side of the
casing, right and left ends of the heat exchanger are each an
upslope end.
14. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein, when the heat exchanger is seen from the front side of the
casing, right and left ends of the heat exchanger are each a
downslope end, and wherein drain pans are provided below the
respective downslope ends.
15. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein at least one of the plurality of bent parts, excluding the
first bent part, of the heat exchanger that are on the side of the
air inlet is positioned below a rotating shaft of one of the
plurality of air-sending devices.
16. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein at least one of the plurality of bent parts, excluding the
first bent part, of the heat exchanger that are on the side of the
air inlet is positioned in an area other than an area that faces an
air outlet of one of the plurality of air-sending devices.
17. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein the air outlet is provided on the front side at the bottom
of the casing, and wherein the heat exchanger is tilted toward the
air outlet such that the heat exchanger slopes downward to a right
with respect to a rear face of the casing.
18. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12,
wherein a partition that separates an area of adjacent two of the
plurality of air-sending devices from each other is provided above
the heat exchanger.
19. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 18,
wherein the partition is provided above the plurality of bent parts
of the heat exchanger that are on the side of the air inlet.
20. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: the indoor unit for
an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 12.
21. An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, the indoor
unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet at a top and an air
outlet at a bottom; an air-sending device provided in the casing
and on a downstream side of the air inlet and including an
axial-flow fan or a mixed-flow fan; and a heat exchanger provided
in the casing and between the air-sending device and the air
outlet, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of bent
parts where a direction of slope of the heat exchanger changes from
an upward direction to a downward direction or from a downward
direction to an upward direction, the plurality of bent parts being
provided on each of a side of the air inlet and a side of the air
outlet, wherein the heat exchanger is provided such that all of the
plurality of bent parts are visible when the heat exchanger is seen
from a front side of the casing, wherein drain pans are provided
below each of the plurality of bent parts that are on the side of
the air outlet, and wherein a portion of the heat exchanger is
positioned above an air outlet of the air-sending device.
22. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21,
wherein, when the heat exchanger is seen from the front side of the
casing, right and left ends of the heat exchanger are each an
upslope end.
23. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21,
wherein, when the heat exchanger is seen from the front side of the
casing, right and left ends of the heat exchanger are each a
downslope end, and wherein the drain pans are provided below the
respective downslope ends.
24. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21,
wherein one of the plurality of bent parts of the heat exchanger
that are on the side of the air inlet is positioned below a
rotating shaft of the air-sending device.
25. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21,
wherein the plurality of bent parts of the heat exchanger that are
on the side of the air inlet are each positioned in an area other
than an area that faces the air outlet of the air-sending
device.
26. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21,
wherein the air outlet is provided on the front side at the bottom
of the casing, and wherein the heat exchanger is tilted toward the
air outlet such that the heat exchanger slopes downward to a right
with respect to a rear face of the casing.
27. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: the indoor unit for
an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 21.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit including an
air-sending device and a heat exchanger that are housed in a
casing, and to an air-conditioning apparatus including the indoor
unit.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There are hitherto known indoor units that are intended for
air-conditioning apparatuses and each include an air-sending device
and a heat exchanger that are housed in a casing. One of proposals
relating to such indoor units is an air-conditioning apparatus
including a casing having an air inlet at a top and an air outlet
on a lower side of a front face, an axial-flow or mixed-flow
air-sending device provided in the casing and on a downstream side
with respect to the air inlet, and a heat exchanger provided in the
casing and on a downstream side with respect to the air-sending
device and on an upstream side with respect to the air outlet, the
heat exchanger allowing air blown from the air-sending device and
refrigerant to exchange heat with each other" (see Patent
Literature 1, for example). The indoor unit includes the
air-sending device provided at the air inlet, and the heat
exchanger provided on the downstream side with respect to the
air-sending device. When the air-sending device is driven, indoor
air taken from the air inlet and the refrigerant flowing in the
heat exchanger exchange heat with each other. Thus,
air-conditioning is performed.
[0003] The heat exchanger of the above indoor unit has a
substantial A shape in vertical sectional right-side view of the
air-conditioning apparatus.
[0004] The heat exchanger is divided into a front-side heat
exchanger and a rear-side heat exchanger. The front-side heat
exchanger is positioned on the front side with respect to a line of
symmetry given in the substantial center of the vertical right-side
section of the air-conditioning apparatus. The rear-side heat
exchanger is positioned on the rear side with respect to the line
of symmetry. The volume of air flowing through the rear-side heat
exchanger is made larger than the volume of air flowing through the
front-side heat exchanger. Thus, air is allowed to flow toward the
air outlet provided on the lower side of the front face of the
casing, without forcibly bending the flow of the air by using the
casing. Furthermore, such a configuration contributes to the
realization of low power consumption and low noise.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0005] Patent Literature 1: WO10/089920 (see [0006] and FIGS. 5 to
7, for example)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] In the indoor unit included in the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Patent Literature 1, as the shape of the
heat exchanger in vertical sectional right-side view of the
air-conditioning apparatus is modified from the substantial A shape
to a substantial mirrored-N shape and then to a substantial M
shape, the volume of air flowing through the heat exchanger becomes
larger. Consequently, the performance (heat-exchangeability) of the
air-conditioning apparatus can be improved.
[0007] However, if the shape of the heat exchanger is modified as
described above, the number of bent parts (parts where the
direction of slope of the heat exchanger changes from an upward
direction to a downward direction or from a downward direction to
an upward direction) of the heat exchanger increases.
Correspondingly, the number of drain pans increases. Consequently,
depending on the dimensions of the casing (the dimensions of the
product), the blowoff area at the air outlet may be reduced
extremely. Therefore, the pressure loss around the air outlet may
increase, leading to a problem of deterioration in the performance
of the air-conditioning apparatus.
[0008] In the indoor unit included in the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Patent Literature 1, increasing the number
of heat exchangers provided also improves the performance of the
air-conditioning apparatus.
[0009] To increase the number of heat exchangers provided, the
dimensions of the casing of the indoor unit need to be increased.
However, considering the possibility that the indoor unit may be
installed in a place such as a house with a low ceiling (a Japanese
house, for example), a space above the entrance door, or the like,
the dimensions of the casing are restricted especially in terms of
height. Furthermore, depending on the shape of the room in which
the indoor unit is to be installed, or if the indoor unit is
installed between pillars or the like, the width of the indoor unit
is also restricted. That is, the thickness is least restricted.
[0010] However, if the thickness of the casing of the indoor unit
is changed, the arrangement of the heat exchanger and the
arrangement of the air passage need to be redesigned for every such
change, leading to a problem of a long development period for the
mass production of such an apparatus.
[0011] The present invention is to solve at least one of the above
problems and provides an indoor unit for an air-conditioning
apparatus and an air-conditioning apparatus in which the
performance of the air-conditioning apparatus can be improved
without increasing the pressure loss around the air outlet even if
the heat exchanger has a larger number of bent parts than in the
known art.
Solution to Problem
[0012] An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according
to the present invention includes a casing having an air inlet at a
top and an air outlet at a bottom, an air-sending device provided
in the casing and on a downstream side of the air inlet and
including an axial-flow fan or a mixed-flow fan, and a heat
exchanger provided in the casing and between the air-sending device
and the air outlet. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of bent
parts where a direction of slope of the heat exchanger changes from
an upward direction to a downward direction or from a downward
direction to an upward direction. The plurality of bent parts are
provided on each of a side of the air inlet and a side of the air
outlet. The heat exchanger is provided such that all of the
plurality of bent parts are visible when the heat exchanger is seen
from a front side of the casing. Drain pans are provided below each
of the plurality of bent parts that are on the side of the air
outlet.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0013] In the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to the present invention, the performance of the
air-conditioning apparatus can be improved without increasing the
pressure loss around the air outlet even if the heat exchanger has
a larger number of bent parts than in the known art. Furthermore,
the thickness of the heat exchanger in the thickness direction of
the casing only needs to be changed in accordance with the required
cooling and heating capacity and the required heat-exchangeability
of the indoor unit. Consequently, the design can be simplified, and
the development period can be shortened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 100) according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 includes vertical sectional right-side views and A-A'
sectional views of different indoor units for air-conditioning
apparatuses.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between the thickness of
a casing and the draft area of a heat exchanger in each of the
indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 and a known indoor unit.
[0017] FIG. 4 includes side views of different heat exchangers ((a)
to (f)).
[0018] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 101) according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 102) according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 102b) that is given for comparison with the indoor unit
for an air-conditioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of another exemplary
indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted
as indoor unit 103) according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 104) according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 105) according to Embodiment 5 of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 106) according to Embodiment 6 of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the
following embodiments do not limit the present invention. Elements
illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily scaled according to
their actual sizes. The following embodiments concern exemplary
cases where indoor units 100 to 106 are of wall-mounted type and
are each to be installed on a wall of an air-conditioned area. A
side of each of the indoor units 100 to 106 that faces the wall on
which the indoor unit is mounted is defined as the rear face, and
the opposite side is defined as the front face.
Embodiment 1
[0026] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 100) according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. The front side in FIG. 1 corresponds to the front face
of the indoor unit 100.
[0027] The indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention supplies conditioned air to an air-conditioned area, such
as an indoor space, by using a refrigeration cycle through which
refrigerant circulates.
[0028] The indoor unit 100 basically includes a casing 1 having an
air inlet 2 from which indoor air is taken in and an air outlet 3
from which conditioned air is supplied to the air-conditioned area,
air-sending devices 4 provided in the casing 1 and that each take
in indoor air from the air inlet 2 and blow off conditioned air
from the air outlet 3, and a heat exchanger 5 provided in an air
duct extending from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3 and that
generates conditioned air by allowing the refrigerant and the
indoor air to exchange heat with each other. A combination of the
above elements provides air passages (arrows A) in the casing
1.
[0029] The air inlet 2 is provided as an opening at the top of the
casing 1. The air outlet 3 is provided as an opening at the bottom
of the casing 1 (more specifically, on the front side at the bottom
of the casing 1). The air-sending devices 4 are provided on the
downstream side (on the side of the air outlet 3) with respect to
the air inlet 2 and on the upstream side (on the side of the air
inlet 2) with respect to the heat exchanger 5. The air-sending
devices 4 are each an axial-flow fan or a mixed-flow fan. The heat
exchanger 5 is provided on the leeward side of the air-sending
devices 4. The heat exchanger 5 may preferably be, for example, a
plate-fin-tube or corrugated-fin-tube heat exchanger 5. The
following description concerns an exemplary case of a
plate-fin-tube heat exchanger 5. The air inlet 2 is provided with a
finger guard 6 and a filter 7. The air outlet 3 is provided with a
mechanism that controls the direction in which air is blown, such
as a vane or the like (not illustrated).
[0030] The indoor unit 100 further includes a motor provided for
purposes such as the driving of the vane, an electrical control
circuit board, and the like (not illustrated).
[0031] The flow of air in the indoor unit 100 will be described
briefly below.
[0032] First, when impellers of the air-sending devices 4 rotate
about respective rotating shafts 11, indoor air flows into the
indoor unit 100 from the air inlet 2 provided at the top of the
casing 1. At this time, the filter 7 removes dust from the indoor
air. The indoor air is blown from air-sending-device air outlets 4a
toward the heat exchanger 5. When the indoor air passes through the
heat exchanger 5, the indoor air is heated or cooled by the
refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 5, thereby turning into
conditioned air. The conditioned air is blown from the air outlet 3
provided at the bottom of the casing 1 to the outside of the indoor
unit 100, that is, to the air-conditioned area.
[0033] The indoor air and the conditioned air are hereinafter
simply referred to as air.
[0034] The heat exchanger 5 will be described below.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 5 has a
plurality of parts where the direction of slope thereof changes
from an upward direction to a downward direction or from a downward
direction to an upward direction (hereinafter such parts are
referred to as bent parts). The plurality of bent parts are
provided on each of the side of the air inlet 2 (these bent parts
are hereinafter referred to as mountain-side bent parts 5a) and the
side of the air outlet 3 (these bent parts are hereinafter referred
to as valley-side bent parts 5b). Thus, the heat exchanger 5 has a
substantial MM shape in vertical sectional front view. That is, a
portion of the heat exchanger 5 that extends between adjacent ones
of boundaries 8 passing through the substantial centers of the
respective bent parts is denoted as elemental heat exchanger 51.
Each pair of such elemental heat exchangers 51 on the right and
left sides, respectively, of a corresponding one of the boundaries
8 slope in opposite directions. The heat exchanger 5 includes pipes
52 in which the refrigerant flows, and plate fins. The pipes 52
form refrigerant passages each extending in the anteroposterior
direction of the heat exchanger 5 (in a direction orthogonal to the
plane of FIG. 1). The plate fins each extend perpendicularly to the
pipes 52 and are arranged in such a manner as to form layers
stacked in the anteroposterior direction of the heat exchanger 5.
The heat exchanger 5 has right and left ends (on the right and left
sides, respectively, in FIG. 1). The right end is denoted as
downslope end 5c when it is positioned at the lower rightmost one
of the bent parts, or as upslope end 5d when it is positioned at
the upper rightmost one of the bent parts. Likewise, the left end
is denoted as downslope end 5c when it is positioned at the lower
leftmost one of the bent parts, or as upslope end 5d when it is
positioned at the upper leftmost one of the bent parts.
[0036] Drain pans 9 are provided below the valley-side bent parts
5b and the downslope ends 5c, respectively. The drain pans 9
receive drops of water condensed on the heat exchanger 5 during a
cooling operation or the like. That is, drops of water condensed on
the surfaces of the heat exchanger 5 run down along the surfaces
toward positions above the drain pans 9 and fall onto the drain
pans 9.
[0037] The internal angle formed at each of the bent parts of the
heat exchanger 5 is denoted as attaching angle 10. If the attaching
angle 10 is larger than a specific angle, dewdrops may fall off
before reaching the positions above the drain pans 9, making it
difficult to collect such dewdrops by the drain pans 9. Therefore,
the attaching angle 10 is designed to be smaller than or equal to
an attaching-angle limit of about 70 to 80 degrees.
[0038] However, the attaching angle 10 is not limited to the above
when there is no chance of generation of dewdrops on the heat
exchanger 5, such as in a heating operation.
[0039] FIG. 2 includes vertical sectional right-side views and A-A'
sectional views of different indoor units for air-conditioning
apparatuses. Part (a) illustrates an indoor unit 100b for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to a known art (illustrated in
FIG. 7 of Patent Literature 1). Part (b) illustrates the indoor
unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[0040] The blowoff area (the area obtained by subtracting the area
of the drain pans from the area of the air outlet 3) of each of the
indoor unit 100b for an air-conditioning apparatus according to the
known art (illustrated in FIG. 7 of Patent Literature 1) and the
indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below. In
each of the A-A' sectional views, the white parts represent areas
of the air outlet 3, and the black parts represent areas of the
drain pans. The heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit 100b has a
substantial M shape in vertical sectional right-side view, whereas
the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit 100 has a substantial MM
shape in vertical sectional front view. That is, the heat
exchangers 5 of the indoor unit 100b and the indoor unit 100 are in
respective orientations that are different from each other by 90
degrees.
[0041] The height of the casing 1 is denoted as H, the width of the
casing 1 is denoted as L, the thickness of the casing 1 (the length
of the casing 1 in the anteroposterior direction) is denoted as D,
the width of each drain pan 9 is denoted as I, the number of drain
pans 9 included in the indoor unit 100b is denoted as N1, and the
number of drain pans 9 included in the indoor unit 100 is denoted
as N2. The indoor unit 100b and the indoor unit 100 are assumed to
have the same values of H, L, D, and I.
[0042] When the blowoff area of the indoor unit 100b is assumed to
be S1 and the blowoff area of the indoor unit 100 is assumed to be
S2, S1 and S2 are expressed as follows:
S1=D.times.L-N1.times.L.times.I, and
S2=D.times.L-N2.times.L.times.I.
[0043] That is, the relationship between S1 and S2 is expressed as
S2>S1 when N1.times.L>N2.times.D. Accordingly, the indoor
unit 100 has a larger blowoff area. The indoor unit 100 having the
larger blowoff area can reduce the pressure loss around the air
outlet 3.
[0044] In a case of an indoor unit for a wall-mounted
air-conditioning apparatus, the dimensions of the casing 1 are
typically as follows: height H=250 to 350 mm, thickness D=200 to
350 mm, and width L=700 to 800 mm (the values vary to some extent
with the cooling and heating capacity of the air-conditioning
apparatus). Hence, a case where H=300 mm, D=280 mm, and L=750 mm
will be discussed below. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG.
2(a) where the heat exchanger 5 has a substantial M shape, the
number N1 of drain pans 9 is three. Therefore, S2 is larger if N2
is less than eight.
[0045] Hence, to establish the relationship of S2>S1, N2 only
needs to be seven or less. When the number N2 of drain pans 9
included in the indoor unit 100 is six, the sum of the number of
valley-side bent parts 5b and the number of downslope ends 5c in
the heat exchanger 5 is six. That is, regarding adjacent two of the
elemental heat exchangers 51 that form a substantial .LAMBDA. shape
as a single unit, the width of the unit is 750/(6-1)=150 mm.
Furthermore, the attaching angle 10 at each bent part in a case
where the heat exchanger 5 has a height of about 200 mm with
respect to the height H of 300 mm is about 35 degrees. Therefore,
the attaching angle 10 is well within the attaching-angle limit,
and it is even possible to reduce the number of drain pans 9.
[0046] According to the above configuration, S2>S1 is satisfied.
Therefore, in the indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the pressure
loss around the air outlet 3 does not increase and is smaller, even
with a larger number of bent parts, than in the indoor unit 100b
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to the known art
(illustrated in FIG. 7 of Patent Literature 1).
[0047] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit 100 for
an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention has a substantial MM shape in vertical sectional
front view. Therefore, to increase the thickness D of the casing 1,
the thickness of the heat exchanger 5 (in the direction of the
thickness D of the casing 1) only needs to be changed without
changing the shape of the heat exchanger 5. Thus, the
heat-exchangeability can be improved by increasing the mass of the
heat exchanger 5 to be provided. That is, the thickness of the heat
exchanger 5 only needs to be changed in accordance with the
required cooling and heating capacity and the required
heat-exchangeability of the indoor unit 100. Consequently, the
design can be simplified, and the development period can be
shortened.
[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between the thickness D
of the casing and the draft area of the heat exchanger in each of
the indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 and the known indoor unit 100b. FIG. 3 illustrates the
change in the draft area with respect to the change in the
thickness D of the casing for each of the indoor unit 100b, graphed
as case (a), and the indoor unit 100, graphed as case (b), L is
assumed to be constant and the attaching angle at the bent part of
the heat exchanger is assumed to be constant.
[0049] As graphed in FIG. 3, the draft area of the heat exchanger
can be made larger in case (b) than in case (a) for most values of
the thickness D. This is because of the following. In case (a), if
the attaching angle at the bent part of the heat exchanger is made
constant, it is impossible to add one more elemental heat exchanger
unless the thickness D reaches a specific value. In contrast, in
case (b), the size of the heat exchanger can be increased in the
direction of the thickness D. Therefore, the draft area can be
increased linearly with respect to the change in the thickness
D.
[0050] Furthermore, in case (b) where a larger draft area (=heat
transfer area) can be provided than in case (a), the wind speed can
be made lower than in case (a) with the same volume of airflow.
Therefore, the pressure loss in the heat exchanger itself can be
reduced.
[0051] As described above, a larger draft area (=heat transfer
area) can be provided in case (b) than in case (a). Therefore, if
S2>S1, the heat-exchangeability can be made higher in case (b)
than in case (a). Thus, the performance of the air-conditioning
apparatus can be improved.
[0052] The configuration of the hitherto known indoor unit is not
perfectly bilaterally symmetrical in front view. Therefore, dummy
elements, such as dummy air outlets and dummy vanes are necessary
for providing good design with bilaterally symmetrical
appearance.
[0053] In the indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, arrangement
such as piping for connecting the pipes 52 of the heat exchanger 5
can be made on the front side or the rear side of the indoor unit
100. Therefore, the indoor unit 100 can have a perfectly
bilaterally symmetrical configuration in front view. Accordingly,
the design of the indoor unit 100 is improved, and dummy air
outlets, dummy vanes, and other dummy elements are not
necessary.
[0054] In the indoor unit 100b according to the known art (Patent
Literature 1) in which the width L of the casing 1 is
satisfactorily large with respect to the height H and the thickness
D, the plate fins are stacked in the direction of the width L of
the casing 1, and the length of each of the pipes 52 (the length in
the direction of the width L of the casing 1) is large. Therefore,
the heat exchanger 5 is more likely to warp.
[0055] In the indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the plate fins
are stacked in the direction of the thickness D of the casing 1,
and the length of each of the pipes 52 (the length in the direction
of the thickness D of the casing 1) can be made smaller than that
of the known art (Patent Literature 1). Therefore, the warpage of
the heat exchanger 5 is suppressed. Accordingly, dimensional errors
can be reduced. Consequently, the assembly work of the heat
exchanger 5 is facilitated.
[0056] The configuration of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit
100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is not limited to the above. For example,
a plurality of elemental heat exchangers 51 may be combined
together, or all of the elemental heat exchangers 51 may be
integrated into a single unit.
[0057] FIG. 4 includes side views of different heat exchangers ((a)
to (f)).
[0058] A plurality of kinds of heat exchangers 5 such as those
illustrated in parts (a) to (d) of FIG. 4 (some are straight,
whereas others are partially or generally curved) may be combined
together. Moreover, there is no need to make each of all heat
exchangers 5 of the heat exchanger 5 slope to the right or to the
left with respect to a corresponding one of the boundaries 8 as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Some of the heat exchangers 5 of the heat
exchanger 5 may extend vertically. Furthermore, either an even
number or an odd number of elemental heat exchangers 51 may be
combined together. Furthermore, the respective lengths of adjacent
ones of the elemental heat exchangers 51 in the
longitudinal-direction length of the plate fins may be either the
same or different. Furthermore, the respective values of pressure
loss in adjacent ones of the elemental heat exchangers 51 may be
either the same of different. Furthermore, the number of
air-sending devices 4, which is two in the indoor unit 100
illustrated in FIG. 1, may be one or more than two.
[0059] If the configuration of the heat exchanger 5 illustrated in
FIG. 4(e) is changed to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4(f)
in which the lower end of one of two adjacent elemental heat
exchangers 51 faces a side face of the other elemental heat
exchanger 51, the size of the drain pan 9 can be reduced.
Consequently, the blowoff area can be increased. Note that the
configuration of the heat exchanger 5 illustrated in FIG. 4(e)
cannot be realized at each of the two ends of the casing 1.
Therefore, the size reduction of the drain pans 9 is only realized
for the drain pans 9 excluding those provided at the two ends of
the casing 1.
Embodiment 2
[0060] The heat exchanger 5 may be configured as described below.
The following description of Embodiment 2 of the present invention
focuses on differences from Embodiment 1 described above. Elements
that are the same as those described in Embodiment 1 are denoted by
corresponding ones of the reference signs used therein.
[0061] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 101) according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention. The front side in FIG. 5 corresponds to the front face
of the indoor unit 101.
[0062] The indoor unit 101 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention differs from the
indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 in the arrangement of the heat exchanger 5.
[0063] In the heat exchanger 5, each pair of elemental heat
exchangers 51 on the right and left sides, respectively, of a
corresponding one of the boundaries 8 slope in opposite directions.
Thus, the heat exchanger 5 has a substantial WW shape in vertical
sectional front view.
[0064] The heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit 100 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 has downslope
ends 5c at the two respective ends (on the right and left sides in
FIG. 1) of the casing 1. In contrast, the heat exchanger 5 of the
indoor unit 101 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 has upslope ends 5d at the two respective ends (on the
right and left sides in FIG. 5) of the casing 1. Air flowing
through each of the two ends of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor
unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment
1 flows out of the heat exchanger 5 in a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction of a corresponding one of the elemental
heat exchangers 51 and in a direction away from a corresponding one
of the side faces (the right side face at the right end or the left
side face at the left end) of the casing 1. In contrast, air
flowing through each of the two ends of the heat exchanger 5 of the
indoor unit 101 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 flows out of the heat exchanger 5 in a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a corresponding one
of the elemental heat exchangers 51 and in a direction toward a
corresponding one of the side faces (the right side face at the
right end or the left side face at the left end) of the casing
1.
[0065] Air flowing out of each of the elemental heat exchangers 51
that are at the two ends of the casing 1 of the indoor unit 101 for
an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 flows
toward a corresponding one of the side faces of the casing 1.
Therefore, the wind speed at the air outlet 3 at the two ends of
the casing 1 can be made higher than that of the indoor unit 100
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1. Thus,
it is possible to solve a quality problem of dew condensation
(during the cooling operation, for example) due to backward flow
that may occur if the wind speed at the air outlet 3 along the two
sides of the casing 1 becomes low.
[0066] Furthermore, the number of drain pans 9 can be reduced by
one, compared with that of the indoor unit 100 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, with the mass
of the heat exchanger 5 unchanged. Although the number of
valley-side bent parts 5b increases by one, the number of downslope
ends 5c is reduced by two because the two ends of the heat
exchanger 5 each form an upslope end 5d. Even if the two ends of
the heat exchanger 5 each form an upslope end 5d, any members such
as bowls that prevent water from dropping is considered to be
necessary instead of the drain pans 9. Such a member can be
provided with a simple structure including a thin plate and a
heat-insulating material and in a smaller size than the drain pan
9. Therefore, unlike the drain pan 9, such a member does not cover
a wide area of the air duct.
[0067] Hence, the blowoff area of the indoor unit 101 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 can be made
larger and the number of drain pans 9 can be reduced, with the heat
exchanger 5 having the same mass as that of the indoor unit 100 for
an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
[0068] According to the above configuration of the indoor unit 101
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2, the
number of drain pans 9 can be made smaller and the blowoff area at
the air outlet 3 can be made larger than in the indoor unit 100 for
an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
[0069] Hence, the pressure loss around the air outlet 3 of the
indoor unit 101 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 can be made smaller than that of the indoor unit 100
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
[0070] Furthermore, it is possible to solve the quality problem of
dew condensation (during the cooling operation, for example) due to
backward flow.
[0071] The configuration of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit
101 illustrated in FIG. 5 is not limited to the above, similarly to
Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 3
[0072] The heat exchanger 5 may be configured as described below.
The following description of Embodiment 3 of the present invention
focuses on differences from Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 described
above. Elements that are the same as those described in Embodiment
1 and Embodiment 2 are denoted by corresponding ones of the
reference signs used therein.
[0073] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 102) according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary
indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted
as indoor unit 102b) that is given for comparison with the indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0074] In FIG. 7, the mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat
exchanger 5 are positioned on the downstream side (the lower side)
of the outer peripheries of the impellers of the air-sending
devices 4. In FIG. 6, some of the mountain-side bent parts 5a of
the heat exchanger 5 are positioned on the downstream side of the
rotating shafts 11 of the air-sending devices 4.
[0075] In the indoor unit 102 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the positional
relationship between the heat exchanger 5 and the air-sending
devices 4 is defined more specifically than in Embodiment 1 and
Embodiment 2. The front side in FIG. 6 corresponds to the front
face of the indoor unit 102, and the front side in FIG. 7
corresponds to the front face of the indoor unit 102b.
[0076] The wind speed in the axial-flow direction on the downstream
side of each of the air-sending devices 4 varies in the radial
direction and increases from the inner side toward the outer side.
Therefore, if the mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat exchanger
5 are positioned on the downstream side of the outer peripheries of
the impellers of the air-sending devices 4 (that is, in areas where
the wind speed is high) as illustrated in FIG. 7, air flowing at a
high wind speed collides with the mountain-side bent parts 5a,
increasing the pressure loss at the heat exchanger 5. This is
because the (mountain-side) bent parts each have a structure that
is difficult for air to flow therethrough. Moreover, if the wind
speed is high at the mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat
exchanger 5, the distribution of the wind speed in the heat
exchanger 5 may deteriorate.
[0077] Accordingly, the positional relationship between heat
exchanger 5 and the air-sending devices 4 in the indoor unit 102
according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is defined as
follows.
[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 6, some of the mountain-side bent
parts 5a of the heat exchanger 5 included in the indoor unit 102
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 are
positioned on the downstream side of the rotating shafts 11 of the
air-sending devices 4, so that the number of mountain-side bent
parts 5a positioned on the downstream side of the outer peripheries
of the impellers of the air-sending devices 4 is made as smaller
than that of the indoor unit 102b as possible. Note that all of the
mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat exchanger 5 are not
necessarily positioned on the downstream side of the rotating
shafts 11 of the air-sending devices 4. The mountain-side bent
parts 5a only need be positioned in areas that do not face the
air-sending-device air outlets 4a and where the wind speed is low,
for example, on the downstream side of a space between adjacent
ones of the air-sending devices 4.
[0079] According to the above configuration, the increase in the
pressure loss at the heat exchanger 5 can be suppressed because the
mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat exchanger 5 are not
positioned on the downstream side of areas where the wind speed of
the air from the air-sending devices 4 is high. Thus, the
distribution of the wind speed in the heat exchanger 5 can be
improved.
[0080] While the indoor unit 102 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes two
air-sending devices 4, the same applies to a case where three or
more air-sending devices 4 are provided.
[0081] FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of another exemplary
indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted
as indoor unit 103) according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0082] The indoor unit 103 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes three
air-sending devices 4. Depending on the number of air-sending
devices 4, it may be difficult to shift the mountain-side bent
parts 5a of the heat exchanger 5 from positions on the downstream
side of the outer peripheries of the impellers (or impeller
portions) of the air-sending devices 4 to areas where the wind
speed is low. In that case, the attaching angles 10 at the
respective bent parts may be varied, as illustrated in FIG. 8,
within a range smaller than or equal to the attaching-angle
limit.
[0083] The configurations of the heat exchangers 5 of the indoor
units 102, 102b, and 103 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 are not
limited to the above, similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2.
Embodiment 4
[0084] The heat exchanger 5 may be configured as described below.
The following description of Embodiment 4 of the present invention
focuses on differences from Embodiments 1 to 3 described above.
Elements that are the same as those described in Embodiment 1,
Embodiment 2, and Embodiment 3 are denoted by corresponding ones of
the reference signs used therein.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 104) according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention. The front side in FIG. 9 corresponds to the right side
face of the indoor unit 104.
[0086] The indoor unit 104 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention differs from the
indoor units 100 to 103 for air-conditioning apparatuses according
to Embodiments 1 to 3 in the arrangement of the heat exchanger
5.
[0087] The heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit 104 is tilted toward
the air outlet 3 in such a manner as to slope downward to the right
with respect to the direction of airflow generated by the
air-sending devices 4 (in the axial-flow direction), or with
respect to the rear face of the casing 1 of the indoor unit 104.
The pipes 52 (not illustrated) extending in the anteroposterior
direction (the lateral direction in FIG. 9) of the heat exchanger 5
also slope downward to the right with respect to the rear face of
the casing 1. The plate fins each extend perpendicularly to the
pipes 52 and are stacked in the anteroposterior direction of the
heat exchanger 5.
[0088] That is, the heat exchanger 5 is made to slope such that the
outlet (not illustrated) of the passage of air provided between
adjacent ones of the plate fins faces toward the air outlet 3 of
the indoor unit 104.
[0089] According to the above configuration, the air flowing from
the air-sending devices 4 in the axial-flow direction is rectified
when passing through the sloping heat exchanger 5. Therefore, air
around the air outlet 3 (around the bottom face) of the heat
exchanger 5 flows out while the mainstream thereof is curved toward
the front side (the left side in FIG. 9) of the heat exchanger 5 by
an angle corresponding to the slope of the heat exchanger 5. Hence,
the wind direction at the air outlet 3 of the indoor unit 104 can
be controlled easily (particularly with respect to the horizontal
direction), and the pressure loss that may be caused when the
airflow is curved around the air outlet 3 can be reduced.
[0090] The configuration of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit
104 illustrated in FIG. 9 is not limited to the above, similarly to
Embodiments 1 to 3.
Embodiment 5
[0091] The heat exchanger 5 may be configured as described below.
The following description of Embodiment 5 of the present invention
focuses on differences from Embodiments 1 to 4 described above.
Elements that are the same as those described in Embodiments 1 to 4
are denoted by corresponding ones of the reference signs used
therein.
[0092] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 105) according to Embodiment 5 of the present
invention. The front side in FIG. 10 corresponds to the front face
of the indoor unit 105.
[0093] The indoor unit 105 for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention differs from the
indoor units 100 to 104 for air-conditioning apparatuses according
to Embodiments 1 to 4 in the arrangement of the heat exchanger
5.
[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 10, some parts of the heat exchanger
5 are positioned on the upstream side (the upper side) of the
air-sending-device air outlets 4a. In the indoor unit 105 according
to Embodiment 5 illustrated in FIG. 9, the above parts of the heat
exchanger 5 are each positioned in a space between adjacent ones of
the plurality of air-sending devices 4.
[0095] According to the above configuration, the mass of the heat
exchanger 5 to be provided can be made larger than in the case
where the heat exchanger 5 is positioned only on the downstream
side of the air-sending-device air outlets 4a. Therefore, the area
of heat exchange can be made larger than in the above case. Thus,
the pressure loss at the heat exchanger 5 can be reduced.
[0096] The configuration of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit
105 illustrated in FIG. 10 is not limited to the above, similarly
to Embodiments 1 to 4.
Embodiment 6
[0097] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of an exemplary indoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus (hereinafter denoted as
indoor unit 106) according to Embodiment 6 of the present
invention. The front side in FIG. 11 corresponds to the front face
of the indoor unit 106.
[0098] The basic configuration of the indoor unit 106 is the same
as that of the indoor unit 101 for an air-conditioning apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 5, except that a partition 15 that separates
adjacent ones of the air-sending devices 4 from each other in front
view of the casing 1 is provided on the upstream side (the upper
side) of the heat exchanger 5.
[0099] The partition 15 is provided on the upstream side (the upper
side) of the heat exchanger 5 and between adjacent ones of the
air-sending devices 4. The partition 15 extends in the
anteroposterior direction of the casing 1 (the direction orthogonal
to the plane of FIG. 11) along the heat exchanger 5 in such a
manner as to separate the flows of air generated by the respective
air-sending devices 4. Thus, the partition 15 separates the inside
of the casing 1.
[0100] Therefore, the flows of air generated by adjacent ones of
the air-sending devices 4 can be prevented from colliding with each
other, contributing to an improvement in the air-sending efficiency
of the air-sending devices 4, a noise reduction, and the like.
[0101] Furthermore, positioning one of the mountain-side bent parts
5a of the heat exchanger 5 between each pair of adjacent
air-sending devices 4 while positioning the partition 15 above that
mountain-side bent part 5a allows a reduction in the length of the
partition 15 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the
mountain-side bent parts 5a of the heat exchanger 5 each have a
function of separating a part of the space between adjacent ones of
the air-sending devices 4, and an advantageous effect equivalent to
an effect produced by increasing the length of the partition 15
downward is also obtained. Consequently, the air-sending efficiency
is further improved. In this case, the partition 15 extends in the
anteroposterior direction of the casing 1 (in the direction
orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 11) along the mountain-side bent
part 5a of the heat exchanger 5.
[0102] The upper end of the partition 15 is desirably at the same
height as the air-sending-device air outlets 4a or the lower ends
of bell mouths (not illustrated) provided around the respective
air-sending devices 4, or more desirably at a position higher than
the above. Specifically, the upper end of the partition 15 is
desirably at a position close to the top of the inner side of the
casing 1. The effect of preventing the collision between the flows
of air from adjacent ones of the air-sending devices 4 is obtained
without the partition 15, as long as the mountain-side bent parts
5a of the heat exchanger 5 are at the same height as or at a
position higher than the lower ends of the air-sending devices 4 or
the lower ends of their bell mouths (the air-sending-device air
outlets 4a) similarly to the indoor unit 105 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 5 illustrated in
FIG. 10. Even in that case, however, it is recommended to provide
the partition 15 above a corresponding one of the mountain-side
bent parts 5a.
[0103] When the partition 15 that separates the inside of the
casing 1 is directly fixed to the mountain-side bent part 5a of the
heat exchanger 5, the configuration is simple. Alternatively, if
the partition 15 is directly fixed to the inner side of the casing
1 with a small gap provided with respect to the mountain-side bent
part 5a of the heat exchanger 5 not to be in contact with the heat
exchanger 5, the partition 15 can be prevented from being affected
by changes in the temperature of the heat exchanger 5. Exemplary
materials for the partition 15 include resin and metal. It is more
desirable that the partition 15 be made of a soft material such as
a rubber sheet or a porous material such as styrene foam, because a
high sound-absorbing effect in the casing 1 is produced.
[0104] According to the above configuration, the partition 15
separates the flows of air generated by adjacent ones of the
air-sending devices 4 from each other. Thus, the collision between
such flows of air can be prevented, contributing to an improvement
in the air-sending efficiency of the air-sending devices 4, a noise
reduction, and the like.
[0105] The configuration of the heat exchanger 5 of the indoor unit
106 illustrated in FIG. 11 is not limited to the above, similarly
to Embodiments 1 to 5.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0106] 1 casing 2 air inlet 3 air outlet 4 air-sending device 4a
air-sending-device air outlet 5 heat exchanger 5a mountain-side
bent part 5b valley-side bent part 5c downslope end 5d upslope end
6 finger guard 7 filter 8 boundary 9 drain pan 10 attaching angle
11 rotating shaft 15 partition 51 elemental heat exchanger 52 pipe
100 indoor unit 100b indoor unit 101 indoor unit 102 indoor unit
102b indoor unit 103 indoor unit 104 indoor unit 105 indoor unit
106 indoor unit
* * * * *